The first of 27 new Electrostar trains for Gatwick Express will enter revenue service between the UK’s London Victoria and Gatwick Airport on 29 February.
Operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the new £145m, 27-train fleet comprises 108 carriages and will replace the existing 30-year old Class 442 fleet.
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The new rail carriages will include more first class seats, power sockets throughout, on-train Wi-Fi, overseat lighting and 2×2 seating with more leg room and underseat storage capacity.
Gatwick Express passenger services director Angie Doll said: "The new fleet will replace 30-year old trains, which are not designed for today’s airport passenger, and our new trains will transform the travelling experience with double doors for easier boarding and alighting, power points for laptops and chargers, Wi-Fi, more luggage space and improved reliability."
Compared with the existing fleet, the new trains will feature double sliding doors, which will allow passengers to get on and off the train more easily, and reduce boarding/alighting times, as well as the amount of time the train is kept at stations.
Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said: "New trains are just the start, with a new rail station on its way, more trains, and an improved network which will help boost the passenger experience for Gatwick’s rail users."
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By GlobalDataDuring testing, a newly branded train stopped briefly at Gatwick recently, giving a sneak preview of the new train to the public on the platform.
Image: As part of the testing process, a newly branded train stopped off briefly at Gatwick Airport station. Photo: courtesy of Southern Railway.
